SMB, Ginebra ready to rekindle rivalry in PBA Finals

It has all the trappings of an all-time classic.

One team is the perennial champion of the Philippine Basketball Association, while the other basks in its reputation as the most beloved franchise of all time. Their respective big men had been rivals in their hometown Cebu since their amateur days, while their imports — after winning a title together — are going against one another.

And it doesn’t end there, San Miguel Beer’s mentor — who has won in all of his six trips to the finals — will be taking on the league’s most decorated tactician.

Grudge underscores the matchup, too, as Barangay Ginebra was the team that derailed the defending conference champions' bid for a historic Grand Slam in last year's Governor's Cup.

On Tuesday, during the presser of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, members of both the Beermen and Gin Kings could only hope they live up to the billing.

“Against (Ginebra), makikita niyo na they are the hottest team in the league right now,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria said during the pre-Commissioner’s Cup Finals presser at a restaurant in Libis.

“I’m sure this will be a very exciting game. When it comes to match-ups. Walang tulang-kabigin,” he added.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone subscribes to the same idea: “I think it’s going to be a tremendous series. There are a lot of side stories and I’m looking forward (to all of it). It should be fun.”

The last time the two teams met was in the Philippine Cup last year. Austria took care of Cone and his squad in five games, beating them soundly in all of the victories. The only time Ginebra won was through a hard-earned overtime tussle in Game Two in Quezon province.

Austria pointed out that the best-of-seven saga between the sister teams should be entirely different from their elimination phase clash.

“We were up against a strong team that has been playing really well in the last 11 games,” the outspoken coach noted.

After losing to San Miguel in the elimination round, Ginebra had collected wins left and right. Their only loss came in the semifinals against top-seeded Rain or Shine.

“For me it’s a real honor to be playing SMB in the Finals, they’re such a great challenge. You can’t pick a bigger challenge. Our guys are gonna embrace it, we’re gonna go after it,” Cone said.

Game One of the Finals will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. —